Tag: #utah
Bryce Canyon NP

Bryce Canyon NP

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Bryce Canyon NP

Weird Hoodoo rock formations scattered around a majestic canyon with a magnificent desert backdrop…That’s Bryce Canyon!! It is a fun place to visit as you’ll encounter lots of hoodoo-shaped rocks and hike between them as if you are a king and they are your guard of honor:) So lets start exploration!

Although it is not a huge park in terms of area, Bryce Canyon NP is one of the most well-known NPs in the entire west, so it gets crowded, especially during summer. Despite its popularity in the summer, for me, this park is at its best in the spring, when the warm sun is out, yet, the hoodoos are covered with snow, which is an unbelievable contrast with the reddish desert landscape. Also, in Spring, it is not so crowded so you’ll be able to enjoy its beauty to the max.

Hiking in Bryce Canyon NP is a unique experience. The trails are not tough, but challenging enough, and, in addition to the main trails around the majestic hoodoos, there are some backcountry ones that will take you away from the crowds to an unspoiled nature that will provide you with magnificent panoramic views of the Hoodoos and the main canyon. As I previously mentioned, it is not a big park, but there are a lot of hiking trails and options, so I decided to do two different loops: one with the hoodoos and one in the backcountry:) (click to request map).  

The first hiking loop is a famous and popular one as it is in hoodoos country:) In this adventure, I combined the Queen’s Garden trail with the Navajo loop which will take you around almost all the hoodoos in the park:) This loop is 3-mile in length and will take around 2 hours to complete as the trail goes deep into the canyon and steeply up again. The start of the hike is by the canyon’s rim and, being early spring, the snow cover is majestic.

The trail walks along the rim for a bit, then it starts going down into the canyon where the real fun begins:) It is Hoodoo country now, and you’ll be surrounded by these tall majestic formations from all directions.

     

You’ll continue hiking down the canyon, and with every drop in elevation, the views of the hoodoos change revealing more majestic character to these rock formations…amazing!

The trail then reaches the bottom of the canyon, and at some point, it paths through a tunnel carved in the rocks!

At the bottom, you’ll join the Navajo loop, again Hoodoo country:)

You’ll then hike in the forest for a while after which you’ll start your great ascend up…it’ll be tough!!

For this part, take it slowly as it is steep and a bit long and it shows on my face:)

But, at the top, you’ll be rewarded with more majestic Hoodoos’ views that are well worth the effort!

The second hiking loop took me to the backcountry of this amazing park. In this adventure, I combined the Rim Trail with the Fairyland Loop for a total of 8-mile or approximately 5 hours of hiking. This loop will take you away from the crowds and will enable you to appreciate the beauty of this out-worldly landscape in its full force. It is not a tough trail, but it is long and can be tricky to follow in some parts, yet the rewards are again breathtaking!

These two hikes made my day at this beautiful park a full and memorable one, but of course, if you’ve more time, there are more areas and trails to explore here…so ENJOY:)
Arches NP

Arches NP

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Arches NP (All Other Arches)

After marveling at the Delicate Arch, which is undoubtedly the highlight of this NP, it’s time to venture off-the-beaten-path and explore the other arches in this NP…which are A LOT!! Although nothing in this world will be as spectacular as the Delicate Arch, each of the other arches in this NP has its unique character. From the weirdly-shaped to the massive to the small to the ones with multiple openings, they come in all shapes and sizes:) The vast majority of the accessible arches can be found around mainly three hiking loops: the Devil’s Garden, the Devil’s Garden Camp, and the Windows Section (click to request map); so, to optimize your time, its best to do one loop, finish all the arches there and then head to the other… so lets start exploring each one of them.

The highest number of arches lie along the Devil’s Garden loop and through this 8.1mi loop, you’ll see all the shapes of arches that you can imagine:) The trail, in general, is easy and the first part is a short two-way portion (you’ll start and finish here) in which you’ll encounter your first two arches: the Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches at 0.4mi and 0.5mi, respectively.

After around 1 mile, the loop starts and although you can do it both clockwise and anticlockwise, I prefer the latter as this way you’ll see the majority of the arches at the beginning and get your arches fix early:) and also I was late so wanted to see the majority of the arches before it gets dark.

Starting anticlockwise and after 1.6 miles you’ll meet the Landscape Arch. This is one of the most intriguing arches in the entire NP as it has a very thin rock layer at the top of the arch that you think to yourself, how come this part is not broken!! and you’ll be amazed at how this arch stands free like this.

After marveling at this arch and at the 2mi mark, it’s time for Partition Arch which gets its name from the 2 separate openings that it has next to each other…intriguing huh! 

Right next to Partition Arch is the Navajo Arch, which isn’t so spectacular, to be honest, but it’s one more arch off the list:)

Next comes the highlight of this loop…the Double’O’Arch! In my opinion, this is the most spectacular arch in the park after the Delicate Arch and you’ll know why from its name:) This arch has 2 perfect “O” shaped openings that will leave you dazzled, so admire and enjoy:) 

Lastly, after 3 miles, there will be a small detour that will take you to Private Arch, which is a little arch in the middle of nowhere.

This is the last arch on this loop, the rest of the trail will provide you with some amazing panoramic views of the surrounding country.

The next hiking loop starts at the Devil’s Garden Camp. This is a short loop that will allow you to see three unique arches: the Skyline Arch, the Broken Arch, and the Sand Dune Arch. The most spectacular of these three arches is the Broken Arch with its amazing two curves that are connected together at the middle of the arch’s opening.

Also, through this loop, you’ll see the Skyline Arch which is another perfectly carved opening in the rocks! 

At that time it was getting dark and as I was on a mission to see all accessible arches in this park, I took off to the next loop…the Windows Section. This loop doesn’t involve much hiking, but it’ll allow you to see a couple of spectacular arches. It was getting dark on me so I decided to start with the highlight of this loop…the Double Arch, and I’ve to say…It is Special!! As the name suggests, it consists of two perfectly carved arches connected together in a meticulous way. Shame it was almost dark and the pics aren’t that clear.

At that point, it was almost dark and I had to drive back to the park’s entrance and was pretty disappointed as I didn’t get the chance to see the last three arches on the list! So guess what?? I returned the next day to complete my mission:) and I’m glad I did as the Turret Arch is another special one in this amazing NP. This arch has it all, a large opening, a small opening, a chimney, and it stands alone in the vast desert:) 

The last two arches are not as spectacular (the North and South Windows), but they are still perfectly carved openings.

All in all, I saw 14 different arches in this park (not counting the Delicate Arch) and each is unique in its own way. Another amazing aspect of exploring this park is that it almost feels like a game by hopping from one arch to another and fulfill your adventurous spirit by seeing all arches that are on offer:)
Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch

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Delicate Arch (Arches NP)

If your dream is to experience the Wild Wild West at its best and venture into its majestic & mysterious landscape, then your destination is Arches NP! If you ever dreamt of visiting the most iconic natural monument of the Wild Wild West, then your destination is, again, Arches NP!

Although this national park is relatively small compared to other parks in the west, exploring this majestic land can take you days in order to marvel at all its beauties. As its name suggests, this NP is full of arches…Natural Arches:) and its home to the most famous of all…THE DELICATE ARCH!!

Exploring this NP is relatively straightforward. First, it is easily accessible as its located at the entrance of the US adventure capital…Moab, UT. Second, it has only one main road from along which you’ll have various trailheads and viewpoints to the different arches (click to request map); however, the main challenge that you’ll face when exploring this majestic NP is to try and see all the arches:)

So how to do it?

When exploring a new place, there are usually two schools of how to do it: 1) save the best for last; or 2) start on a high:) I personally belong to the 1st school; however, for this NP, I had to go for the 2nd school and start with the iconic & majestic Delicate Arch! for three reasons: 1) I wanted to start early and beat the crowds, 2) I didn’t want to risk not having enough time to enjoy and marvel at this out-of-this-world beauty, and 3) I honestly couldn’t resist:)

As I said, this NP is full of arches, but honestly, it’ll be unfair to write about them in the same blog as the Delicate Arch and because there are not enough words or pics that can describe what you’ll see in front of you, I’ll dedicate this blog to exploring the Delicate Arch only, and exploring all the other arches will be through another blog post. Another recommendation before embarking on this exploration is to postpone visiting the viewpoint, which can be done by car, till after you visit this icon up close and personal so as not to ruin the surprise… So lets start!

The trail to the Delicate Arch starts at the Wolfe Ranch, but you’ll have to park in the parking lot 1 mile down the road and walk back to the ranch to start. From here, it is a 3-mile (+480ft) hike to the Arch over rocky terrain.

From the moment I reached the ranch and started the hike to the Arch, the adrenaline started pumping in my veins, and with every step forward, I found myself walking faster till I practically ran as I was too eager to be finally able to see this wild west icon. Until suddenly, the Delicate Arch came into view and What a View!! 

Still, you are far away and from that distance, you can’t grasp the full scale of its size nor how delicately carved it is! Yet, once I reached the vicinity of this icon, I instantly felt so small, both in size and age:) and started running around from the excitement and disbelief of what I was seeing.

How can nature carve such a fine and delicate rock is beyond me, how can this majestic arch keep standing tall all these years is mind-blowing.

I can’t describe my feelings while I’m in front of this icon, its simply a miracle that is unmatched anywhere on earth. So, it goes without saying, that you’ll spend a lot of time admiring this stunning arch in front of you and it’ll be one of your hardest decisions when you finally decide to head back to your car…SO ENJOY:)
Glen Canyon NRA

Glen Canyon NRA

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Glen Canyon NRA

When you are in the area around Kanab, UT or Page, AZ, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) might be overlooked for some of the other more famous wild west landmarks in the area; however, for me, this NRA is a must-see, not only if in the area, but in your life!! Although its not much of an adventure to visit the stunning places in Glen Canyon NRA, as it is mostly done via a road trip and short hikes, the bizarre landscape that you can see here is unmatched elsewhere in the wild west.

There are a lot of places to wander around in this area; like Hanging Gardens, Horseshoe Bend, Lone Rock, Buckskin Gulch, and the Toadstools…among others. However, since I was lucky and got the permit for The Wave🙂 I only had half a day to spare in the area so I had time to visit only three of those amazing landscape features; which are: The Toadstools, Lone Rock, and the jewel in the crown:) The Horseshoe Bend, which are all located along US 89 (click to request map).  

I started with The Toadstools, as it is the furthest from Page, AZ, and the one that involves the longest hike. The Toadstools is located at MP19 on N89. The length of the hike actually depends on your schedule and how much you want to see in the area, but at least it’ll involve 2 miles each way. The start of the hike feels that you are entering through a door to the wilderness! It involves walking along a narrow canyon until it opens up.

When the trail opens up, you’ll continue your hike along a small creek that breaks the arid desert landscape around it.

Then as you venture deep into the wilderness, there will be locations where you’ll have to cross this creek multiple times to reach your destination, which is pretty fun:).

     

After hiking for 2 miles, you’ll start to see the bizarre Toadstools themselves which are rock formations that resemble the shape of a chimney! There are a lot of these shapes in the area, so you can venture as deep as you want till you get your fix of them and head back the same way.

The next stop in this NRA is Lone Rock which is located at MP3 on N84. As the name suggests, this is basically a lonely rock in the middle of the reservoir, which looks very intriguing:) You park near the road and hike for half a mile or so till you get to the river banks, but you’ll start getting a glimpse of this lonely rock along the trail and, believe me, you’ll spend some time admiring this view.

Saving the best for last is the Horseshoe Bend!! This is an amazing, one-of-a-kind, earthly feat and is one of the famous wild west landscapes. It is something that you’ll have to see with your own eyes to believe that it exists. Again, the hike from the parking lot is almost 1 mile or so, but you’ll be running along the trail from the anticipation of what awaits you:) & it is this view that awaits you:)

How did mother nature create this amazing natural feature…I really don’t know…It is the perfect bend that you’ll find anywhere. You can try to understand what created this bend as nothing can stop the mighty Colorado River from following its course, or, be more pragmatic, and interpret it as earth standing tall and strong in face of the river! Either way, it is out of this world sight, so ENJOY, ADMIRE & RELAX and take a lot of pics:) 
The Wave

The Wave

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The Wave

Have you ever wondered if the pictures you see as screensavers on your PC, tablet, or phone are real or not? Well…They Are!! And it is a privilege to be able to visit one of these places during your lifetime as, in these places, you’ll truly appreciate the beauty of our planet. I was lucky enough to have this privilege and this blog will be about one of these natural gems…THE WAVE!!

The wave is the unofficial name of this majestic rock formation that is located in the middle of nowhere on the borders between the states of Utah and Arizona, yet the official name of the area where it is located in Coyote Butte North!

This is a wilderness area that is well protected; hence, you won’t find the exact location of The Wave on any map as there are no trails that lead you there, only natural landmarks that you’ve to use to navigate your way till you reach it!! Not only that, but in an effort to preserve this unique landscape from mass tourism, there is a strict permit system in place that only allows a handful of adventurers to visit this stunning rock formation per day; and only if you are lucky to get a permit, these landmarks will be revealed to you by the rangers! So, in an effort to help in preserving this natural beauty, I’ll not reveal, in this blog, how you can reach The Wave, I’ll only explain to you the permit process in an effort to help you plan this adventure of a lifetime; and, of course, I’ll show some pictures that are out of this world:)

There are two ways through which you can get a permit to visit The Wave, and both are based on a lottery format. The first is to apply online on the wilderness area website to get a permit up to four or five months in advance (click to request info) and you’ll enter a draw, and if you win, you’ll be notified. Unfortunately, this permit is in very high demand and your chances of winning are not that high; so, try to be flexible with your dates and apply for a number of dates, and hopefully one of them will win. The second way is to apply in person at the visitor center in Kanab one day prior to your planned date of the adventure as there are few spots reserved for last-minute adventurers…Like me:) When you apply in person, the lottery will be conducted at the visitor center at the same time of the application and you’ll spend 15 nervy minutes hoping that your number comes up:) If you are extremely lucky, then you’ll win a permit for the next day. Of course, the first way is more convenient as you’ll be able to plan your trip in advance; however, as it is easy to apply online, you can expect a large number of applications and a limited chance of winning. On the other hand, although the second way of applying for a permit isn’t the perfect way, in terms of planning, not many people drive all the way to Kanab, UT, without a permit, so you can expect far less competition for the permits; albeit, it is still hard to get.

I personally had to go for the second option as I planned late for that trip but to increase my chances, I chose a date that I expected very few people to be there at the visitor center and apply for the permit, I chose Thanksgiving Day! And guess what…I Was Lucky and won the permit:) I can’t deny it, but winning this lottery almost feels like winning the real one, with money:)

After getting your permit, the ranger will give you a small map and explain to you the landmarks that you’ll follow to reach The Wave, as well as, a permit to carry with you while hiking as rangers are there to check it on your way to this majestic place. Also, remember that your permit is for the next day, so you have a free day in the area, so click here for things to do on that day.

On the next day, your lucky day:), you’ll drive all the way to Wirepass trailhead, park your car and start your adventure from there. My advice to you during this unusual hike is to keep aware of your bearings and be very alert to your surroundings as your map will show you the way to the wave and not back, and believe me, the scenery changes when you head back and you’ll need to be alert to the route you traversed and always check the other direction.

When you set your first sight on the wave, you won’t believe yourself, it is Out-Of-This-World, and the adrenaline will be pumping in your veins and you’ll feel like a kid in a playground:).

     

What is more amazing about this majestic place is that it reveals a different aspect of its beauty whenever you look at it from a different direction and each view is special! So, take your time, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity…SO ENJOY:)

Zion Canyon National Park

Zion Canyon National Park

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Zion Canyon National Park

One of the most iconic national parks in the wild wild west is Zion Canyon NP in southern Utah. Dramatic landscape and a deep canyon carved by the North Fork of the Virgin River provides scenery that is out of this world.

Of course, no trip to the wild west is complete without true adventures and no place can do adventures like Zion NP and all On Your Own! You can spend an entire lifetime here and still you wouldn’t be able to explore the entire beauty of this park. The extensive hiking trails in Zion NP, whether day hikes or backcountry ones, will take you to places that you wouldn’t have imagined that they exist.

But be warned!! This isn’t a land for the fainthearted and any hike here should be well planned in advance. In the next blog posts, I’ll first show you an introductory hike that will get you acquainted with this park before we endeavor into 2 of the wildest & most iconic hikes that you can find anywhere in our planet:)

Hike 1: Emerald Pools

Hike 2: Angels Landing

Hike 3: The Narrows
The Narrows (Zion NP)

The Narrows (Zion NP)

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The Narrows (Zion NP)

If you think that you’ve seen it all, wait till you hike The Narrows!! Technically, the adventure into The Narrows is more of wading in waters rather than hiking, as 60% of it will be in the Virgin River! And the landscape you’ll encounter during this adventure is truly out-of-this-world. Add to that that this adventure will take you off-the-beaten-path in one of the busiest NPs in the entire US, so the feelings and experience of exploring such a unique place, On Your Own, are priceless.

Most people will only venture to the entrance of The Narrows by hiking the easy 1-mile paved Riverside walk from the Temple of Sinawava, unaware, or not adventurous enough, that they only got a faint glimpse of what lies ahead.

This means that this adventure is not for everyone, especially if done in the springtime, as I did. There are risks of flash flooding and hypothermia that you might face. In the spring, the snow is still melting, which mixes with the Virgin River water in The Narrows, so the water is freezing and the weather can change suddenly leading to risks of rain and flash flooding. So don’t attempt to undertake this adventure unless you are very well prepared!

The first step of your preparation is that you’ve to consult with the rangers at the visitor center the day before your planned adventure about the risks of flash flooding. They’ve all the necessary information that will allow you to make an informed decision. If the risk is low, then you still have to avoid the risk of hypothermia as you’ll walk in a freezing waters, in some sections it’ll be knee-high, for more than 4 hours.

Your normal gear won’t cut the chase here, evern if you use waterproof gear, you still need something like a drysuit to insulate the cold; so, you’ll need special gear from head to toe! (for details on the gear you need click to request info). Luckily, you don’t have to buy them as there is an outfitter in Springdale, UT who rent out this gear and they are reliable (click to request info). So, prearrange your gear, and on your planned day to hike The Narrows, pick them up in the morning and get ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime!!

As I mentioned earlier, the access to this adventure is after hiking the Riverside Walk. So, park your car at the Temple of Sinawava parking lot and don’t put on your gear yet, hike this trail to the mouth of The Narrows first.

Now it is time to gear up and getting ready to venture away from the crowd On Your Own

The total length of this adventure is about 3.6 miles (1-way) of hiking, rock hopping, and wading in the water inside a narrow gorge and splendid sandstone formations, till reaching Big Spring as you are not allowed to continue further on a day hike and without a permit; however, this is, by all means, not an easy 3.6 miles to navigate.

At the start of the adventure, the water level will be very low and even some sections will be dry, but you’ll start to get an idea of this special terrain and landscape. The first section will take you to an area called Narrow Alcove. In this section, you’ll have to continuously hop on the rocks to find your way around the fast running waters. It is fun, yet not to be underestimated.

With every step, the water level will get higher, making your experience more adventurous and unique.

When you reach the Narrow Alcove, there will be a small beach on the side where you can rest and take a break.

Right after the beach, the gorge will get narrower and narrower, and you’ll feel that you are on a different planet!

This section till the Grotto Alcove is the easiest of all sections and, in some areas, it gets wider and the water will be peacefully still.

Now, and after 1.6 miles, the highlight of The Narrows begins. Right after the Grotto Alcove, the narrowest part of the entire Narrows, called Wall Street, begins. This is the section for which you saw pictures in famous websites and thought that they were photoshopped as you couldn’t imagine someone can access this area:) The gorge here becomes so narrow and, in some areas, only 20-feet wide!

At the beginning of Wall Street, there is a detour to your right to Orderville Canyon which is a scary even narrower tributary of the Virgin river that isn’t for the faint hearted. Even if it looks scary from its entrance, try to, at least, venture a couple of hundred feet inside and back to experience this wild place.

No words can describe the Wall Street section…the curvy sandstone formations, the clear water, and the narrow gorge, gives it all a feel of exclusivity and eeriness that makes you feel unique and privileged. In some sections the water is shallow.

And it gets deeper and deeper in others

But in all sections, it is a landscape that will make you appreciate the beauty of our stunning planet

The wall street section ends about half a mile before Big Spring, the gorge will get wider and you’ll feel that you are back to life:)

Continue your way to Big Spring, have your picnic and rest and get ready for heading back and more adventures:)  

Angel’s Landing (Zion NP)

Angel’s Landing (Zion NP)

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Angel’s Landing Hike (Zion NP)

I have to admit, this must be the scariest hike that I’ve ever did!! It needs strong courage and belief in your abilities to be able to navigate the last part of this crazy trail! but the reward is the iconic view over the entire Zion canyon that only few can reach. It is a hike that truly captures the essence of the Wild Wild west; and as always…you can do it On Your Own!

To access this hike, you’ve to first start by hiking the strenuous West Rim trail till you reach Scout lookout. If you are here for this hike only, then you can access the West Rim trail from the Grotto parking lot; however, I combined this hike with the Emerald Pools hike so it was longer but with added rewards. So, following on from the Emerald Pools hike blog, I’ll take you in this blog through this amazing and unforgettable hike.

Coming down from the Upper Emerald Pools, you’ll merge with the Kayenta trail instead of heading back to your car. This is a moderate 1-mile trail that will mark the start of your endless uphill journey to Angel’s Landing:) The trail first starts gently along the North Fork of the Virgin river.

Then will start climbing up till you reach the junction with the West Rim trail. At this point you would have gained 150ft of elevation and, looking back, the bird’s eye views of the valley will start to unfold.

Now you’ll start the real hike, or shall I call it…the battle! From here you’ll continuously hike uphill on the West Rim trail. You’ll need every breath with every step you take, so take your time and use the opportunity to admire the views along the way…Behind You!

After around half a mile, you would have gained a considerable elevation by now; and looking back towards the rive and the snaking trail, you’ll realize how high up you are! The views here are a glimpse of what awaits you during the rest of your adventure, but they are outright amazing.

Take your breath and continue hiking up! Your muscles will start to ache by now, but also the adrenaline will be pumping:) The trail will continue along the rim for another mile or so before the start of the switchbacks to Scout landing, so take a break here and admire those yet more amazing views.

The landscape here is a true reflection of the Wild West with rocky desert terrain, a deep canyon carved by a mighty river, and cactus trees dotting the landscape.

Now you are close to Scout landing, only half a mile, but it is all uphill through endless switchbacks.

The switchbacks will take you away from the river and deep into the rocky rim that will give you a feeling of a wanderer:)

Finally, you’ll reach Scout landing after gaining an elevation of almost 1,400ft. At this point, the views are magnificent enough to make you wonder wait more can possibly await you! You are now almost at the top of the west rim of the canyon and you can see all the way down to the bottom of it.

And this is the road that you drove on!!

You can also see both sides of the canyon from here which gives you a stunning 360 degrees panoramic views.

Now its time to take a long rest and have your lunch because what awaits you is a completely different animal! You only have half a mile left to hike with approximately 90ft of elevation gain till you reach Angel’s landing, but this is not what should concern you here…what should is the trail itself!!

Take a close look at this picture!

Yes, you’ll hike on that trail and On Your Own!! So, you’ve a big decision to make! You should trust your abilities, but also know your limitations as fatalities are not uncommon here! So take your time, assess the trail and the weather, and decide if you want to continue or not…and, if you need any encouragement… I spent almost an hour at Scout landing trying to make a decision! I kept peaking at the trail, hike few yards and back, and thinking will I be able to do it! But, at the end, I gathered all the courage that I have and decided to go for it…and I’m glad I did. My advice to you when doing this part of the hike is to take your time, watch every step you take, use the guardrails and chains installed, don’t get distracted by the views, forget about taking pictures here:( and above all…NEVER LOOK DOWN!! And remember you have to come back the same way!

The start of the Angel’s landing trail will be on a slippery rock face. After this initial hurdle, you’ll feel a bit secure as, although the trail gets very narrow, it is not exposed from both sides. But this is the last of such comfort feeling which explains why I was happy in these pictures (took on my way back), and why these are the last pictures that I took:) I’ve to admit, I was scared to death and being a solo hiker, self-timer pictures aren’t an option here:)

  

It took me nearly an hour to navigate this trail and, lucky me, it wasn’t that windy. At some sections, I felt that I want to go back, but I couldn’t turn as the trail is so narrow, so my only option was to go forward and gather all the courage I have and trust my abilities.

I can’t describe the feeling when I reached this magical spot and because it took me so long to come here, I was alone which is an added bonus! It is so surreal, scary, and peaceful st the same time. So enjoy this unforgettable moment and take as long as you like…you did something really tough and you deserve this reward.

One last advice… don’t get a false sense of security on your way back and say to yourself that it’ll be easy as you did it before! Yes, it will be easier, but never easy. So, take the same precautions on your way back till you reach Scout landing…at this point youcan start dancing if you want:)

 
Emerald Pools Hike (Zion NP)

Emerald Pools Hike (Zion NP)

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Emerald Pools Hike (Zion NP)

This is an introductory hike to this amazing wild park. It’ll give you an idea about the dramatic landscape here and how tough the terrain is…so lets begin!

This hike is a combination of 2 different trails that will take you to these majestic pools while passing along seasonal waterfalls along the way. The first hike is the easy 0.6mi Lower Emerald Pool trail which will then be combined with the moderately strenuous 0.5mi Upper Emerald Pool trail.

Entering the park from its main entrance near Springdale, UT, you’ll start driving along the Zion Canyon scenic drive. Take your time driving this scenic road as you are now entering the bottom of a massive canyon carved by the mighty forces of nature. Almost halfway through the drive, you’ll reach the Emerald Pools area where you’ll park your car and start your adventure (click to request info).

From the parking lot, you’ll start your hike by crossing the river and hike along the sheer rocky cliffs of Zion canyon. The rock formations are dramatic and, depending on the season, there will be small waterfalls all along the way dripping above your head…so prepare to get wet:)

 After crossing the river, the trail will start travelling uphill, but it is not steep, and as you hike along the cliffs, some sections will become very narrow. Here you’ll get a real feeling of how small humans are when standing next to these massive cliffs…its is an amazingly humbling feeling.

 

After about 0.4 miles, you’ll hike up some stairs that will lead you to the Lower Emerald Pools.

If you are here in late spring when the snow has melted, the pools will be full and deep, I was there in early spring so they weren’t that full as some of the snow has not melted yet.

However, standing at these pools surrounded by the massive rocky cliffs is a scene to remember.

From here, you’ll turn left and merge with the Upper Emerald Pool trail. It gets tougher from here as the trail will start going uphill.

As you hike along this trail, you’ll get closer and closer to the cliffs and the small waterfalls will continue dripping above you so be careful…it can be slippery.

Finally, reaching the upper pools signals the end of the trail and the views around you will be breathtaking.

The entire hike should take maximum 45 minutes, so its time to retrace your steps back along the Upper Emerald Pool trail, but at the junction with the Lower Pools trail don’t head back as this will be the start of the famously crazy Angel’s Landing hike…so get ready:)

 

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